Parachute deploying means



Jan. 4, 1949- p s 2,458,212

PARACHUTE DEPLOYING MEANS Filed Dec. 28, 194.5 I 2 Sheets-Sheet l I I NVENTOR. PREVOST E SMITH QQCE mama/14 A TTORNE Y Jan. 4, 1949. 2 sMlTH 2,458,212

PARACHUTE DEPLOYING MEANS IN V EN TOR.

PREVOST E SMITH @QQQM ATTORNEY Patented Jan. 4, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT" OFFICE- PARAOHUTE DEPLOYING MEANS Prevost F. Smith, San Diego, Calif. Application December 28, 1945, Serial No. 637,5116

4 Claims. 1

My invention relates to a parachute deploying means more particularly for use in connection with airplanes for safely landing the same when disabled and the objects of my invention are:

First, to provide a means of this class which is arranged to change the flight attitude of the airplane to which it is connected so that the main parachute in connection therewith may be released and deployed clear of the tail assembly of the airplane;

Second, to provide a means of this class which automatically deploys the main parachute in connection with the airplane when the airplane assumes an inclined attitude whereby the main parachute is deployed rearwardly and above the tail assembly of the airplane insuring operation of the main parachute which is arranged to safely lower the disabled airplane;

Third, to provide a means of this class in which a pilot parachute is released by the pilot of the airplane for changing the flight attitude of the airplane and automatically releasing the main parachute when the angle of the axis of the airplane reaches a certain value with respect to the attaching cord in connection with the pilot parachute;

Fourth, to provide a means of this class which is so designed that the main parachute may be stowed forward of the tail assembly relatively near the center of gravity of the airplane and may be deployed from the airplane at an angle out of interference with the tail assembly;

Fifth, to provide a means of this class which changes the flight attitude of the airplane preliminary to releasing the main parachute whereby the airplane is slowed down and the air flow thereby is quite turbulent in the area behind the aircraft providing very favorable conditions for the opening of the main parachute which may be of relatively light construction due to the reduced speed and turbulent airflow;

Sixth, to provide a means of this class in which a pilot parachute is connected to the airplane in spaced relation to the center of gravity so that the pilot parachute, when released, creates sufflcient drag in spaced relation to the center of gravity in connection with the airplane to change the flight attitude of the airplane and slow the same down preliminary to the release of the main parachute which is accomplished automatically when the airplane reaches a certain flight attitude with respect to its forward flight direction;

Seventh, to provide a means of this class in which the pilot parachute is provided with two cords, one of which is connected to the airplane 2 1 and the other to a main parachute stored in connection with the'aircraft whereby the-pilot parachute may be released and cause the'airplane to change its flight attitude whereupon the cord interconnecting the pilot parachute and the airplane is released causing the pilot parachute to exert tension on the cord interconnecting the main parachute and the pilot parachute for releasing the main parachute While theairplane is in an angular attitude; and Eighth, to provide a parachute deploying means of this class which is very simple and economical of construction, eflicient in its action and which will not readily deteriorate or get outof order.

With these andother objects in view as will appear hereinafter, myinventionconsists of certain novel features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts and portions, and a certain modification as will be hereinafter described in detail and particularly set forth in the appended claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawings and to thecharacters of reference thereon, forming a part of this application in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of an airplane in normal flight with myparachute deploying means in connectionjtherewith, illustrating the pilot parachute in open position immediately after release; Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of an airplane showing my parachute deploying means in connection therewith after the air: craft has assumed an angular attitude caused by the drag of the pilot parachute and showing the pilot parachute releasing the main parachute; Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary top or plan view taken from the line 33 of Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view taken from the line 4-4 of Fig. 3, showing partsin elevation to facili tate the illustration; Fig. 5 is' an enlarged frag; mentary top'or planfview of a modified form of the latch mechanism of 'my parachute deploying means, illustrating the structure in a similar manner to that as shown in Fig.3 of the drawings; and Fig. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view taken from the'line 6-6 of Fig.5, showing parts in elevation to facilitate the illustration,

Similiar characters of reference refer to similar parts and portions throughout the several views of the drawings.

The pilot parachute I, main parachute Z, cords 3 and 4, cord link 5, hook member' 6, and the structural members 1 and'f8 constitute'the principal parts and portions of parachutedeploy ing means.

The pilot parachute I", as shown in 1 of the drawings, is packed and stored near the pilots compartment of the airplane and is arranged to be released by the pilot of the airplane as desired. Connected to this pilot parachute l is the cord 4 which is connected at its opposite end to the main parachute 2 which is stored in the airplane near the pilots compartment, as shown best in Fig. 2 of the drawings. The cord 3 interconnecting the pilot parachute I and the cord link 5, as shown in Fig. I. ofthe drawings, operates'to. exert drag in connection with the airplanewhen-pilot parachute l is. first released. The cord link 5, as

shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings, is arranged to} engage the hook portions 6a of thehookmember 6, which is secured by rivets 60 to the structural members 1 and 8 in connection wi-ththefframe of the airplane to which my..-paz;achutedeploying means is connected. As shown in Figs. 1' and 2 of the drawings, the hook member projectsabove the pilots compartment;of the airplane and above thezcenter of gravity of: the airplane-tor applying theedrag; of. ;the..-pllota parachute hover the cen-ter ofg gravityand. causing theiairplane-toassume the angular attitude,-,.as-shown. in.-;Fig; 2'of :the drawings. I

:The O eration-i of :my, -,paI-'.achute deploying means .istsu bstantially'. asfollows:

Whentthe; pilot parachute: lis released., b'ythe pilot of, the=airplane it i-opens asr shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings, creating-tension. in; connection with. the cord; and. cord, link. 5: which: is: secured on. .therecess portion: 6b;- of. the :hook memben-fia. Thispilot. parachute .-in the air streamecreates considerable .dragi-imp osing. considerable.- leverage over the. center; ofij gravity of; the airplane incom nection withlthe .hoolemember 6,, whereby theairplane is:caused'tdchange-its.flieht; attitude to. an angular relationship. as shown in. Fig. 2.;f the drawings,,-whereupon. the, cord. link. 6." slips,out of the recess pontionl 6b. releasing-the; cord 3., from the. airplane and. creating tension, im the-00111 4 interconnecting. the pilot parachute H land. the main. parachute 2. which ,causes. the. main. parachute 2 to be pulled out of'its pack .inithe airplane I .and. to be deployed. aboyeandzrearwardlynf; the tail surfaces. of the....airplane (whereby. it. is. not entangledrin oonnectiornwith-anyof the.air-plane structure. .Thus the disabled. airplane is. safely lowered totthegroundr In. themodification, as shown in. Figs. 5. and r 6 of". the drawings the, pants; are designed as. follaws:

The. base. 9,, link. Hl hook members: H and I2, latch. member; L3, spring;14,..cordlink. i5, cord 1. latch cord; IT, structural members. 18. and I9; and the-pins,.2.0 to 23 inclusive. 1

.The'lbase. 9 is. connected. to,- the. .structural.- mem bers..l8l..andl;t9..by the riyet [Ba It cWil];1be;. ,81e noted thatrthe;structuratmembers- Wand: k9 cor: respond. tothe..structuralmembersfi. and Irrespectivelyasiishown -in.Fig.. 4 ef. the. drawings. Pivotally: connected-to the base iL-isthe. link It ar ranged. in pivotaL-relationship w-iththe pin. 20 securedtinr the .upwardly.- extending bracket por tion. 9'a --of the base=;-9=. The. hookmember it is connectedttothe. biturcated. end: 1 0a of:- the. link 10. bymeansaofltheQpin 2'.l-. .Pivotally connected toathe" ho'ok.=member1 H by means? of .the pin. 22* is the hook member I2. This hoolememben 1-2 is. provided. with a. latchportion 12d oneits V-movable ;end' engageable with thedatchvv member I 3 piyotallymounted on; thepin- 2 2.111: con.- nection with. therhoolnmember. l-t. 'I?he=,1atch member I 3 is connected to the structuraL-,-mem.--

: bet is.- .bnthetbracket I an andzthe latchecord I! 4 which is a flexible member. It will be noted that the cord link I5 is engaged by the hook members II and I2 when latched in the solid line position as shown in Fig. 6 of the drawings. The cord It, in connection with the cord link I5, is substantially the same as the cord 3, as disclosed in Figs; 1 to 4 of the drawings, and serve the same operation.

The operation of the modified form of my parachute deploying means is substantially as follows:

When the pilot parachute is released in connection with the cord [6 and slows the airplane .down-,-., changing the flight attitude thereof, the 15 the-aircraftcauses the latch cord I! to be pulled diverging angle of'the cord I 6 with the axis of taut andreleasethe latch portion 12a of the hook member l2 from the latch member IS. The hook member I 2 then pivots on the pin 22 releasing the cord link l5 together. with the cord 1 6", whereby the. pilot parachute. exerts tension on the vmain parachute, as; described. in. connection withFigs. 1 and 2 of the drawings. The spring. J lin-en.-

gagement, with the. latch member l3, maintains thelatch member [3' inengagement with the latch portion IZa-of thehook. I2 until released by. ten.- sion ofthecord. I];

'Though I have. shown andudescribed a particular construction, coinbinationand arrange.- ment of parts and portions, and acertain modificatiomldo not wishto be. limitedto :theparticular construction, combination andarrangement, nor to the modificationbut desired...to,inI-' clude inIthe scopeof my invention. the construe? tion, combination. and arrangement substantially as set forth intheappended claims, I Having thus: described. my invention, what LI claim as new and desire to secure byLettersPatentis: T

1'. In a. parachute deployingmeansoi. thecl'ass. described, the combination .ofan airplane, .a .pilot parachute, afirst andsecond. cord in connection with said vpilotlparachute, a cord link in; connection with said first cord, anda main-parachute in connection .with, said. second cord ,,pivoted:hook means in connection with said airplane;engage.- able with said cord 1ink,,a latchmemben-winconnection withtsaid. pivotedhobk .means. arranged to, hold the same in engagementtwith.said,cord link and a l'atchcord. interconnecting said latch member. and thev structure ofsaid airplane.-, for. releasingsaid hook members .when forced. into. awidening diverged relation whereby .saidlatch cord trips said latch member and'ereleasesqsaid hook member disengaging: the; same from-said cord link, whereby the pilot parachuteisreleasedfrom. the; structure, of the.-airplane;andq exerts tension on said: second, cord in: connectionwwith the main parachute for deploying the: same:upwardly and; rearwardlyof: the-airplane:

2. In a parachute deploying m'eansofithe class,

described, .,the combinationiof. am airplane, a pilot parachute, afirst andzsecondcord: in connectionwith said pilotpparachute; a. cord link in c0nnec-- tion with said first'cord, anda. main parachute inconnection with saidisecond-cord pivotednhookl means in. connection withisaidairplane engageable with said cord link, a latch member in=connection with: said-pivoted hook. means arranged to hold the same, in. engagement with saidcord; link .and ai latchcord interconnecting said latchmember and" the structure" of? saidgairplanez'forr releasing -saidthookzmembers :when: forced; into a.iwidening diverged; relation whereby said llatcl'r GO Idnt IiPS-Said latch;;member.aand' "releases:saidv hook member disengaging the same from said cord link, whereby the pilot parachute is released from the structure of the airplane and exerts tension on said second cord in connection with the main parachute for deploying the same upwardly and rearwardly of the airplane, and a second link interconnecting said pivoted hook means and the structure of said airplane.

3. In a parachute deploying means of the class described, the combination of an airplane, a pilot parachute, a first and second cord in connection with said pilot parachute, a cord link in connection with said first cord, and a main parachute in connection with said second cord, pivoted hook means in connection with said airplane engageable with said cord link, a latch member in connection with said pivoted hook means arranged to hold the same in engagement with said cord link and a latch cord interconnecting said latch member and the structure of said airplane for releasing said hook members when forced into a widening diverged relation whereby said latch cord trips said latch member and releases said hook member disengaging the same from said cord link, whereby the pilot parachute is released from the structure of the airplane and exerts tension on said second cord in connection with the main parachute for deploying the same upwardly and rearwardly of the airplane, and a second link interconnecting said pivoted hook means and the structure of said airplane, and said latch member pivoted in connection with said first mentioned pivoted hook means.

4. In a parachute deploying means of the class described, the combination of an airplane, a pilot parachute, a, first and second cord in connection with said pilot parachute, a cord link in connection with said first cord, and a main parachute in connection With said second cord, pivotedhook means in connection with said airplane engageable with said cord link, a latch member in connection with said pivoted hook means arranged to hold the same engagement with said cord link and a latch cord interconnecting said latch memher and the structure of said airplane for releasing said hook members when forced into a widening diverged relation whereby said latch cord trips said latch member and releases said hook member disengaging the same from said cord link, whereby the pilot parachute is released from the structure of the airplane and exerts tension on said second cord in connectionwith the main parachute for deploying'the same upwardly and rearwardly of the airplane, and said latch member pivoted in connection with said pivoted hook means rearwardly of the connection of said cord link with said pivoted hook means.

PREVOS'I F. SMITH.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,050,324 Hoffman Aug. 11, 1936 2,396,921 Leslie Mar. 19, 1946 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 284,348 Germany May 20, 1915 

